PERTH, Western Australia — Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone says they have already put a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to New Zealand behind them and are fully focused on the daunting challenge that awaits them in Perth.
Arriving in Western Australia on Saturday, Cone and the Philippine squad received a warm welcome from members of the Filipino community at Perth Airport, an assurance that they will not be short of support when they take on the mighty Australian Boomers.
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Despite Friday night's emotional 102-106 defeat to the Tall Blacks in Auckland, Cone believes his players are mentally prepared to respond.
"We have very short memories and we are going to bounce back," Cone said shortly after arriving in Perth.
The Philippines will face Australia, currently ranked No. 6 in the FIBA World Rankings, on Monday at RAC Arena to conclude Window 3 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asia-Oceania Qualifiers.
Cone expects Australia to be playing with confidence after dismantling Guam, 124-52, in a performance highlighted by the debut of newly naturalized star Bryce Cotton.
Cotton, already regarded as a basketball legend in Perth after leading the Perth Wildcats to three NBL championships and winning multiple MVP awards, didn't disappoint the home crowd with 18 points in 18 minutes.
He also had four of the Boomers' record 24 three-pointers against Guam.
Cone acknowledged that Australia represents one of the toughest assignments in international basketball.
"The Boomers are No. 6 in the world. It's a tough mountain for us to climb, but we're going out there and hopefully pull off a surprise and go home with a win," Cone told SPIN.ph.
The challenge is even greater considering Australia defeated Gilas Pilipinas 93-66 during their previous meeting last March.
Stop Aussie shooters
Stopping Australia's elite shooters will be at the top of Gilas' game plan.
Cone emphasized that defending the three-point line will be crucial, but equally important will be controlling the game's pace and preventing the Boomers from dictating the tempo.
"They're gonna be at home, so they'll be comfortable with the rims, the background, and that's something we'll try to catch up with over the next couple of days as we practice. They're a great shooting team and we need to defend the three-point line. But it really comes down to how we play — our tempo, how we control the flow of the game. If we can do that, then we can stay with them and maybe pull off a surprise," Cone explained.
While Australia enjoys home-court advantage, Gilas can expect strong backing from the large Filipino community in Western Australia. Hundreds of supporters are expected to fill the 14,000-seat RAC Arena, creating an electric atmosphere for what promises to be one of the most anticipated games of the qualifying window.
For Gilas, Monday's clash is more than just another qualifier. It is an opportunity to prove they can compete with one of the world's elite basketball nations and show the resilience that has long defined Philippine basketball.
After the heartbreak in Auckland, the focus now shifts to Perth — where Gilas hopes to turn determination into one of its biggest victories on Australian soil.
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